Open Contest Creative Brooder Contest—17th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-Along

[Debbie292d]

I'd ask if they ever try to fly out, but since they're Silkies, I would be shocked!

Those pens come with a zipout bottom and zip screen cover. We don't use either unless the mosquitoes are really bad. But yes, safe with silkies for the most part.

 

[the crazy chicken tender]

This my brooder easy and disposable holds 3 chicks easy for a couple weeks

 

[thecatumbrella]

This my brooder easy and disposable holds 3 chicks easy for a couple weeks

They don't fly out? Mine are usually bouncing off the walls by 7 days-old.

I love the little tissue box hideout, by the way! I got something like this for my last chicks, but I think I waited too long to introduce it because there were no takers. Too scary, I guess.

 

[the crazy chicken tender]

yah they usually start flying out at around a week or so than i pt him in my bigger brooder. yah the chicks like the tissue box lol

 

[thecatumbrella]

yah they usually start flying out at around a week or so than i pt him in my bigger brooder.

Bigger brooder, you say? Is it contest worthy???

I'm just saying... you get to make up to four entries.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Those are handy! We use one of those often for little ones to get acclimated to the outdoors. And sometimes actually, for camping. We had held back a few to grow out, and they were too young to leave home. At night, we brought them into the camper.

*Not an entry*

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I have this exact same puppy pen, only mine is royal blue! I keep the bottom zipped on. Throw a tarp in the bottom, then add shavings and chicks. The zipper mesh top helps ensure my kitties don't have a chick snack.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I have this exact same puppy pen, only mine is royal blue! I keep the bottom zipped on. Throw a tarp in the bottom, then add shavings and chicks. The zipper mesh top helps ensure my kitties don't have a chick snack.

I've seen people use them for emergency shelters as well. You never know when your chickens could have an unexpected camping trip in your garage (for extreme weather, etc.)! They're very versatile.

 

[fluffycrow]

Well, I don’t know about creative, but certainly trashy .
Entry 1, the old desk (outdoor) brooder.

In later years, when bigger batches hatched, we extended the wire to make a U shape about 1.5 meters at the front.
Only the bunch in the photos were able to escape, and after about a week of fixing all the minor details, we never had escapees again.
The drawers at the top were excellent for placing anything that we might need, like medicine, food and tools to tweak anything in need of fixing

 

[ChickyCh00k]

My tent brooder:

This was my first batch of chicks (8) - I set the tent up in my spare bedroom with a brooder plate and a heat mat. I lined the bottom inside edges of the tent with cardboard. I also put an air filter/purifier in the room to keep the dust at bay, as well as a space heater to keep the room warmer than the house. The tent is 8x8 and I was able to get right inside and sit with the chicks. It worked really well for 5.5 weeks (at which time I transferred them to their outdoor coop with a Sweeter Heater). I brood outdoors now, but I really enjoyed this option. This group of hens is still my most friendly and easy to handle.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Well, I don’t know about creative, but certainly trashy .
Entry 1, the old desk (outdoor) brooder.
View attachment 4318274View attachment 4318275
View attachment 4318276
In later years, when bigger batches hatched, we extended the wire to make a U shape about 1.5 meters at the front.
Only the bunch in the photos were able to escape, and after about a week of fixing all the minor details, we never had escapees again.
The drawers at the top were excellent for placing anything that we might need, like medicine, food and tools to tweak anything in need of fixing

Of course this is creative! Especially with bowing the panels out to make more room. I have a shower curtain rod like that, and it makes the inside of the shower feel huge!

Also, having built-in storage near your brooder is brilliant. My chick stuff just gets thrown all over the floor. Now that's trashy.

My tent brooder:

View attachment 4318293
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This was my first batch of chicks (8) - I set the tent up in my spare bedroom with a brooder plate and a heat mat. I lined the bottom inside edges of the tent with cardboard. I also put an air filter/purifier in the room to keep the dust at bay, as well as a space heater to keep the room warmer than the house. The tent is 8x8 and I was able to get right inside and sit with the chicks. It worked really well for 5.5 weeks (at which time I transferred them to their outdoor coop with a Sweeter Heater). I brood outdoors now, but I really enjoyed this option. This group of hens is still my most friendly and easy to handle.
View attachment 4318301

I would pay money to go in that tent.

You guys are really nudging me towards trying a tent brooder. Look at them all piled on you! Love the little hamster huts. Do they actually go inside?